Bell City has right formula

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- When you have a proven winning formula, you stick with it.

The Bell City Cubs have a formula they've been using all season, and it definitely works in big games.

Drawing on its potent three-person scoring attack, game-long defensive pressure and penchant for strong second halves, Bell City continued to dispose of Class 1A schools on Friday.

Bell City's latest victim became the Stewartsville Cardinals, who the Cubs defeated 65-55 in the Class 1A semifinals.

Bell City improved to 28-5 as it advanced to today's 2 p.m. state championship game against Santa Fe (24-5). The Cubs, who finished third in 1981, will make their first state championship game appearance in school history.

"It's kind of neat to be the first team out of Bell City to play for first," senior Jason Rampley said.

"At the beginning of the season we started off 1-2 and everybody was like, 'Well maybe they're not as good as they're supposed to be.' We knew if we stuck together and kept working hard, that we could make it."

Santa Fe posted a 71-69 victory over the Community Trojans.

"I'm ready to play," said Bell City sophomore point guard Dominitrix Johnson of the state championship game. "I was ready today. This is my first time here. I've heard a lot about it."

Johnson helped steady the Cubs early, scoring the team's first six points of the game and finished with 17 points. It was his lowest point total since scoring 19 in the Cubs' district championship win over Oran.

C.J. Hadley topped 20 points for the third straight game with 21 points and all-stater Eric Henry added 15. Hadley pulled down 13 rebounds and Johnson had seven assists.

"That team is extremely talented," Stewartsville coach Brian Whitmer said. "They've got so many different weapons."